A Facebook user posted a picture with a claim of the outbreak of Monkey Pox virus in Bangladesh.
Caption: “1st case of Monkey pox diagnosed in Bangladesh today in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University
(BSMMU). Be alert, Be safe!
Courtesy: Dr Asif Wahid”
The same news was shared on multiple Facebook pages and by independent users. Post links can be found below.
Debunked Source
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=1st%20case%20of%20monkey%20pox%20diagnosed%20in%20bangladesh
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=124950996869767&id=102022102495990
https://www.facebook.com/groups/434889160468552/permalink/1070496076907854/
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1685353391813608&id=100010168894122
https://www.facebook.com/habibur.rahmangp/posts/4798834850223233
https://www.facebook.com/nirvejalmango/posts/964580134205072
Fact Check
In order to investigate the claim, we searched for keyword “BSMMU” and found the official page of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. The University has denied the claim of the outbreak of monkey pox in Bangladesh by posting a statement on their official social media page.
Furthermore, we also found a post of Dr. Asif Wahid denying the rumors and explaining that the viral post with his name is not made from his account, hence he has nothing to do with the incident.
Source
https://www.facebook.com/1595608657342146/posts/3264660143770314/
ABCDE Framework-Based Analy
Rating
Misinformation/Hoax
Conclusion
Our research confirmed that the claim made is a hoax. Bangladesh has not reported any case of Monkey Pox yet. The misinformation was spread to create panic among general public.
ABCDE Framework-Based Analysis
| Actor | Independent accounts and pages on Facebook are involved in spreading misinformation on social media. |
| Behavior | The false news of first case of monkey pox was reported accrediting the news with assistant surgeon of Noakhali district; Dr. Asif Wahid. |
| Content | Social Media posts. |
| Degree | The content is being spread to misinform people, the target audience of the news was the general public of Bangladesh and misinformation was mainly spread through Facebook. |
| Effect | Uncertainty and fears were caused by the fake news of outbreak of the monkeypox disease in Bangladesh. The news was being circulated to mislead the masses and create panic. |